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Last updated on Saturday, September 7, 2013
(INDIANAPOLIS) - The Marion County prosecutor is facing new pressure to launch a special investigation into the city’s handling of records in the case of an IMPD officer charged with drunk driving in an accident that killed a motorcycle rider and injured two others.
David MacAnally, of WTHR reports, local leaders want an independent special investigation to look into the actions of those in charge of the David Bisard case.
At Officer Bisard's hearing last week, the focus was on his blood - whether it could be used against him at his coming trial.
But something else went on trial at that hearing. The conduct of some police and then-public safety officials right after Bisard's fatal car wreck in August 2010.
Rev. Stephen Clay, a member of the Indianapolis Police Merit Board says because there has been such a profound breach of public trust, to ask the Marion County Prosecutor Terry Curry to convene a special prosecutor to look into the matter.
Bisard allegedly drove drunk then hit three motorcyclists, killing Eric Wells.
At the blood evidence hearing last week, it came out that two police officers secretly taped two conversations they had with Deputy Prosecutor Denise Robinson.
Also revealed, then-Public Safety Director Frank Straub allegedly ordered then-IMPD Chief Paul Ciesielski's emails captured and secured along with the chief accident investigator's emails.
There were also charges Straub ordered Bisard's internal affairs files pulled after hours. All things Clay says "we consider bombshell revelation."
So next Tuesday, Clay and other pastors will ask Curry for that outside independent investigator.
Another compelling fact to Clay is the code of silence that has engulfed the case. These officers knew their directive was unlawful and if not unlawful, irregular, Clay says.
The current public safety director, Troy Riggs, wants it clear that all those things happened under the previous director. His spokesperson, Valerie Washington, said Riggs "was visibly upset originally when he heard the news from Prosecutor Curry" the news two officers did secret taping.
Washington added that Director Riggs is not pleased that the staff would tape a deputy prosecutor.
She says Riggs has no comment on the call for a special prosecutor, but will cooperate with anything Curry decides to do.
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